Reading the Detectives discussion
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What mysteries are you reading at the moment? Old thread, 2019-2020
Susan in NC wrote: "Tara wrote: "Just finished Towards Zero, and starting Ordeal by Innocence in a joint Agatha Christie audiobook read by Hugh Fraser. These are non-Poirot/Miss Marple myste..."Hugh is one of my favorite narrators! His old lady impressions are particularly amusing.
Towards Zero has some Christie reoccurring themes about suicide, betrayal, and men "madly" falling in love with women who are not their wives. Apparently men can be bewitched by women, and aren't responsible for what happens!
Ordeal by Innocence involves a murder that has already occurred before the book begins, and it ostensibly solved. I think this would have made a good Poirot, although some of Christie's most unique constructions involve random first person narrators.
I've just finished The Body in the Dumb River: A Yorkshire Mystery
by George Bellairs. It's the 35th in the series and despite this being my first, this didn't matter. 3*s.
I just started The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri. I have both the English and Italian versions. Camilleri wrote big words and long sentences and it's overwhelming my ability to read Italian. My pace is about one page of Italian to one chapter of English. The book is more "colorful" than the TV series (which is excellent IMHO).
David wrote: "I just started The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri. I have both the English and Italian versions. Camilleri wrote big words and long sentences and it's overwhelming my ability to r..."I purchased this and the next two in the series in a bundle earlier this year. I haven't gotten to them yet, but will fit them in eventually. I didn't know there was a TV series, but that isn't much of a surprise.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "David wrote: "I just started The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri. I have both the English and Italian versions. Camilleri wrote big words and long sentences and it's overwhelming m..."Elizabeth, some PBS stations show the TV series (it's called Montalbano), and it's also available on the MHZ streaming service.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "David wrote: "I just started The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri. I have both the English and Italian versions. Camilleri wrote big words and long sentences and it's overwhelming m..."The series is shown on mhz. It was carried on one of the PBS channel in Chicago but not one I get in western NC. Although they do have a streaming channel which I'm still debating about getting.
David wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "David wrote: "I just started The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri. I have both the English and Italian versions. Camilleri wrote big words and long senten..."I guess we were both delivering a reply at the same time.
It doesn't matter. I have no idea what mhz is, I don't do streaming, and don't watch movie/episodic TV. The TV we *do* watch is more documentary type programming. But thanks!
I started listening to Murder at Melrose Court: A Country House Christmas Murder, but couldn’t get into it, so put that one aside for Hercule Poirot's Christmas,
- I’m so excited to find a new-to-me Poirot, a rare and special treat!
Susan in NC wrote: "...starting Ordeal by Innocence..."Susan, you already know that I immensely enjoyed Ordeal by Innocence. IMHO it's in AC's top 5 best non-series stories. I look forward to reading your review once you've read it.
ShanDizzy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "...starting Ordeal by Innocence..."Susan, you already know that I immensely enjoyed Ordeal by Innocence. IMHO it's in AC's top 5 best non-series stories. I look ..."
Thanks, I think that’s Tara who is currently reading that one, but good to know, I want to get to it, also!
I started Ashenden. My usual approach to a collection of stories is to intersperse them with other reading. As these have the same first person character, I may just want to read them straight through. I'll want to make notes along the way.
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I've just finished Wife of the Gods which set in rural Ghana. Nice characters and an interesting plot. The second book that I have read by Kwei Quartey and I'll continue with the series.
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Carolien wrote: "I've just finished Wife of the Gods which set in rural Ghana. Nice characters and an interesting plot. The second book that I have read by Kwei Quartey and I'll cont..."I've seen him occasionally on some of the Kindle deals emails. I hesitate to get started on a new series. But this just looks so interesting, I might have to break down next time I see one. Do you think they should be read in order?
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Carolien wrote: "I've just finished Wife of the Gods which set in rural Ghana. Nice characters and an interesting plot. The second book that I have read by Kwei Quartey which is a novella and a good introduction to the series.I would read it in order, but try Death at the Voyager Hotel which is a novella and will give you a good indication on whether it is worth starting a new series.
I was tidying a bookshelf on Monday and ended up re-reading Shadows On The Water. I have inherited a stack of books by Elizabeth Cadell and they are always fun to read. This one has a strong mystery element to it as there is an attempted murder on one of the main characters. Set in post-war Lisbon, it was a lovely relaxing read.
Carolien wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Carolien wrote: "I've just finished Wife of the Gods which set in rural Ghana. Nice characters and an interesting plot. The second book that I have read by..."Thanks, Carolien. I see my library has ordered The Missing American, to be released next year. A new series? It has a female detective. Same setting of Accra. Although longer, I might put that on a wish list and see what I can see.
Just beginning a new author/series with Gretel and the Case of the Missing Frog Prints by P.J. Brackston. Not loving it so far, but I'm willing to see it through to determine if the rest of the series is worth a go.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Carolien wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Carolien wrote: "I've just finished Wife of the Gods which set in rural Ghana. Nice characters and an interesting plot. The second book th..."I see it's listed as a new series called Emma Djan by Fantastic Fiction. It's going on my TBR list as well.
Just started my annual rereads of Christmas-themed mysteries- listening to The Mischief of the Mistletoe, as I frantically try to finish a knitting project, and Rest You Merry on kindle or paperback when I’m not knitting! Also started a new to me George Bellairs recommended by group members, The Dead Shall be Raised & Murder of a Quack, also set at Christmas- but 1940, I love the combination of Inspector Littlejohn’s low-key nature and dry humor in the WWII setting, very interesting.After that, I need to tackle the latest in a favorite series by Christopher Fowler, the Bryant & May PCU mysteries (Bryant & May: The Lonely Hour: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery). I can’t wait, I signed up for it months ago before it was published, never thought I’d get it so soon!
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I enjoyed Rest You Merry a few years ago and intend to continue the Bryant and May series. I've only read the first and liked it a lot.
Sandy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Just started my annual rereads of Christmas-themed mysteries- listening to The Mischief of the Mistletoe, as I frantically try to finish a knitting project, and [..."As you can tell, I enjoy humor and quirky characters in mysteries! ;)
I've treated myself to a reread of the first books in Beate Boeker's Temptation series set in Florence. If you enjoy quirky characters and humor, I would highly recommend this series, Susan. The first one is Delayed Death.
Carolien wrote: "I've treated myself to a reread of the first books in Beate Boeker's Temptation series set in Florence. If you enjoy quirky characters and humor, I would highly recommend this seri..."Thanks, Carolien, this is a new author to me, I appreciate recommendations! I just added it as a Want To Read title, the summary given sounds funny, and gives me a chance to be an armchair traveler, always a plus! ;)
Today I started reading
, as well as
.
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, as well as ."Oh, Captain Lacey! I read the first few of those but haven't continued lately. I think I got side tracked by the Sebastian St Cyr series: they are the same time period, have a brooding hero and are easier to find.
Sandy wrote: "...Oh, Captain Lacey! I read the first few of..."Sandy, I read the Lacey series for free on amazon unlimited. It's an addiction for me, like E.R. Punshon's Bobby Owens series
, as well as the Miss Silver mysteries
by Patricia Wentworth.
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Jill wrote: "I am starting Mystery Villa 4th in the Bobby Owen series Been sort of missing good old Bobby."Oh, yes, encourage me with these, please! I've let them slip off my radar.
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About to begin
The Lies We Hide by S.E. Lynes after finishing the extremely enjoyable
Now You See Them by Elly Griffiths. My spoiler free review can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Hi Bill Here are the two threads we had when we read it as a grouphttps://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Judy wrote: "I also enjoyed the first few Captain Lacey mysteries - another series I'd like to get back to!"I also enjoy the Captain Lacey mysteries. I've read almost the entire series and I'm just holding off the last 2 books to make the enjoyment last!
David wrote: "I just started The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri. I have both the English and Italian versions. Camilleri wrote big words and long sentences and it's overwhelming my ability to r..."I finished reading the English version, still a long way to go on my ambitious project of reading it in Italian. Typical, in a good way, Camilleri - at least two parallel plots that keep you guessing as to not only "who done it" but what was done.
David wrote: "David wrote: "I just started The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri. I have both the English and Italian versions. Camilleri wrote big words and long sentences and it's overwhelming m..."I've been reading his Montalbano novels forever (in order, of course). I had noticed that over the last few years his books have been lacking the energy of the earlier ones, but I can't complain. Huge fangirl.
David wrote: "I finished reading the English version, still a long way to go on my ambitious project of reading it in Italian. Typical, in a good way, Camilleri - at least two parallel plots that keep you guessing as to not only "who done it" but what was done."Thank you for this. I will make an effort to get to this next year.
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Judy wrote: "I've started a Christmas read, Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod, which was recommended by Susan in NC and is first in the Peter Shandy Mysteries series. Enjoying i..."I read it a few years ago and enjoyed it. I just rated it because I apparently forgot to rate it then.
Judy wrote: "I've started a Christmas read, Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod, which was recommended by Susan in NC and is first in the Peter Shandy Mysteries series. Enjoying i..."Oh, good! Glad there are more available on Kindle Unlimited if you like her style - I bought used paperback copies years ago, but they’re getting yellowed and the small print can be tough. I find MacLeod’s mysteries like popcorn- can’t stop with one! (I know people usually say like potato chips, but I prefer popcorn...)
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I’m reading the Nursing Home Murder by Ngaio Marsh, and The Secret of the Old Mill by Franklin W Dixon.
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I have just downloaded an audiobook of the first P.D. James book for our 2020 challenge, Cover Her Face, from my local library, but have now found that it is actually a BBC radio dramatisation, with Hugh Grant among the stars! I will enjoy listening to this, but hope to pick up a print copy of the actual book from another local library in the next day or two. :)
Reading the Detectives
Books mentioned in this topic
The Constant Rabbit (other topics)The Thursday Murder Club (other topics)
Gallows Court (other topics)
The Thursday Murder Club (other topics)
Gallows Court (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
P.D. James (other topics)Vanda Symon (other topics)
Michael Robotham (other topics)
Domenica de Rosa (other topics)
Elly Griffiths (other topics)
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I don’t recall reading those two Christie’s, hmmm...I love Hugh as a narrator! I’ve got to make reading room for my favorite Christmas mystery rereads, also!